AGAWAM–I was able to cover a great story last week which featured me roaming the woods of Robinson State Park with some hikers, taking in the scenery.
The weather was beautiful, the views were wonderful and it was overall a great time–except for two problems. First off, I got lost in the woods–don’t laugh too hard–and two, I was bit by a tick.
Even though we are in October and the weather is getting colder, ticks are still prevalent in the woods. This means that many, whether they’re a leaf-peeper or a deer hunter, still stand a chance of getting bit by a tick, which can lead to several tick-borne diseases, some of which have seen a significant rise from years past.
Many people know the more common tick-borne illnesses, which are Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but reports from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health show that the lesser-known diseases such as babesiosis and anaplasmosis have appeared in patients at a significantly higher rate than they did in 2008.
For babesiosis, the number of cases went from 51 in 2008, to 445 in 2015, and for anaplasmosis the rate went from 41 to 763 in the same time frame.
These numbers fortunately, are still low and the Department of Health said that the majority of these cases happened in the Cape Cod area. Still, it is important to be aware and vigilant about ticks.
Ticks like to come out when it is a little less dry, so now that rain has fallen there may be some more ticks out and about. Additionally, as deer come out for the season, they tend to be great transporters for the eight-legged pest. After all, there is a reason why a type of tick is called a deer tick.
According to the CDC, “[t]icks find their hosts by detecting animals’ breath and body odors, or by sensing body heat, moisture, and vibrations.” They will often wait in well-traveled areas, like hiking paths or wherever animals typically traverse. While waiting, they are in what is known as a questing position, which is where they will remain attached with the bottom two sets of legs to whatever they are based on, while their upper arms are extended, waiting to grasp onto the unsuspecting victim.
Once they do find a host they may bite, but they may also move onto another host. This is why during the hunting months there will still be a fair amount of ticks that humans are susceptible to. Hunted animals tend to come closer to human-occupied areas when the weather gets cooler and food becomes more scarce, and the tick will dislodge and attempt to find another host if they sense that more prey is nearby.
According to the CDC, the most effective way to prevent tick bites is to use insect repellent on exposed skin that has 20 to 30 percent DEET in it. For clothing and gear, repellent featuring 0.5 percent permethrin is suggested, and fabric treated with the repellent can withstand several washing cycles before it becomes ineffective.
Also according to the CDC, once you come home from activities outdoors it is important to shower and do a full-body examination for ticks. The shower washes away the ticks that may not have bitten yet, and the examination can find any ticks that may be on your body that aren’t easily visible. After all, ticks like to hide in hair, belly buttons, arm pits and any other warm, moist and clandestine areas the body has to offer.
Additionally, regularly check your pets and your gear for the pests. To be doubly sure, the CDC also suggests putting your clothing following possible exposure in the dryer at a high heat level for at least 10 minutes.
If you are bit by a tick–like I was–it’s important to be vigilant about symptoms and how long the tick had been attached to you. For me, the tick was on me for no more than three hours, so my visit to the doctor was deemed mostly precautionary and not generally needed. For tick bites that are less than 24 hours, transmission rates are low, and as my doctor told me, no treatment is generally suggested or required unless symptoms show.
However, if a tick has had the possibility of being on a person for 24 hours or more, it is suggested that the person receive prophylactic treatment of the antibiotic doxycycline. More on the medication later.
For symptoms, most of the diseases have the same kinds. Usually you will see fevers, chills, aches and pains according to the CDC, which are pretty similar to the flu. This can be tricky in the cooler months of course, since rates of the flu increase.
For diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia, a rash may also develop as a symptom, but not always. Many people know about the common “bull’s-eye” rash that forms when Lyme disease is transmitted, but 20 to 30 percent of people infected may not develop the rash, according to the CDC. Even more drastically, those infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever may not see a rash as often as 90 percent of the time there’s an infection.
Still, for those who contract Lyme, the most common first symptom is still the rash, which happens at the site of the bite. Typically, you will see a large outer circular rash, followed by no rash inside of it, then another circular rash at the origin of the bite.
If you are bitten and exhibit symptoms, the generally accepted treatment is a round of antibiotics called doxycycline. The medication will generally be given to adults twice a day at 100 mg doses for at least three days. Side effects of doxycycline are generally mild and include increased sun sensitivity for the skin, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or upset stomach.
For those allergic to doxycycline or its larger family of tetracycline antibiotics, then there are second-line options available for treatment. The caveat though, according to the CDC, is that these treatments generally aren’t as universally effective at combating the many tick-borne diseases like doxycycline is. This can be troublesome since the diseases generally have similar symptoms. However, for more thorough and advanced diagnosis, treatment and advice, your physician will be able to provide you with the best information.
Now, make sure to enjoy the outdoors this fall, especially with the fine fall foliage, and be sure to not be like me and either get lost in the woods or be foolish and get bit by a tick.
